CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT DECLINES IN 162 OUT OF 337 METRO AREAS BETWEEN JUNE 2011 & 2012 AS ECONOMIC GROWTH SLOWS, PUBLIC SECTOR CUTS BACK

Anchorage, Alaska Had Largest Percentage Decline, Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill. Lost the Most Jobs; Bakersfield-Delano, Calif. and Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas Are Top Gainers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 31, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Construction employment declined in 162 out of 337 metropolitan areas between June 2011 and June 2012, increased in 127 and stayed stagnant in 48, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that construction employment declined or remained unchanged in most metro areas as the public sector continued to cut back on investments in new construction and infrastructure and economic growth slowed.

“The construction sector continues to shrink or stagnate in most metro areas as demand for new construction remains weak in too many places,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “It is hard to see how the construction employment picture will improve significantly in the short term until the economy picks up more steam.”

Association officials said they were becoming increasingly concerned that a combination of slower private sector growth and declining public sector construction investments will continue to undermine construction employment for months to come. They urged officials in Washington to act quickly to eliminate uncertainty about future tax rates and to pass long-delayed water and other infrastructure measures.

Located in the Metropolitan Washington, DC area, The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is the leading association for the construction industry. Operating in partnership with its nationwide network of Chapters, AGC provides a full range of services satisfying the needs and concerns of its members, thereby improving the quality of construction and protecting the public interest.

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